Weekend Warrior for May 31: Picks for Opening Verse, Mountainview, American Oaks

Across the country Saturday, there are stakes galore, with a slew of statebred contests in New York and graded stakes action on the other coast in California. The Warrior is focused on three plays: two horses coming off challenging trips and a Kentucky shipper taking on California’s best 3-year-old fillies. For those horses and the details, read on ...

Opening Verse Stakes

Regally Ready, a millionaire and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, is heavily favored in the Opening Verse at Churchill at 8-5 on the morning-line. He has developed into a quality miler since being stretched out last October.

But having won his last race at Churchill with a dream trip in which he set a soft pace, Regally Ready is a horse to play against, particularly going 1 1/16-miles, a distance that is stretching his limit.

The Warrior’s play in the Opening Verse is Villandry, who won a third-level allowance May 9 at Churchill despite having to make a prolonged five-wide trip on the second turn. Seemingly in trouble in early stretch, he somehow found a way to outfinish rivals who enjoyed smoother journeys than he did.

Drawn in post 1 for the Opening Verse, Villandry has a better chance to save ground – the kind of trip you want on the grass. Among the most desirable grass trips is one in which a horse can draft in behind horses, save ground, and then angle out with a clear path with a quarter-mile remaining.

If Regally Ready is forced into quicker splits than last time, Villandry might just have the ability to run him down late.

Mountainview Handicap

Turning to Penn National, where four stakes kick off its card Saturday evening, Valid looks poised for an improved performance at 10-1 odds on the morning line in the Mountainview Handicap.

A much-improved horse since joining the stable of trainer Marcus Vitali, Valid was doomed by the pace in his latest when racing in the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special. Hustled away from his inside starting position, he carved out splits of 22.75 seconds, 46.98, and 1:11.23 – hot splits that left him fatigued for the stretch run. He faded to fifth, beaten seven lengths by the classy Revolutionary.

Taking into account the pace, he didn’t run badly. He still earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, a number not too far off those of the favorite in the Mountainview Handicap.

Following the speed-and-fade trip in the Pimlico Special against better, expect a more patient ride from jockey Orlando Bocachica in this race, even with another inside draw.

This is not a need-the-lead horse. In each of his two victories this year, Valid came from just off the pace.

Throw in that some his chief opponents have strikes against them – such as Last Gunfighter being unraced this year and Golden Ticket having shown questionable fight in recent starts – and Valid takes on even more appeal.

American Oaks

The American Oaks, a Grade 1 race for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, looks ripe for Kentucky shipper Room Service to win.

A winner of two straight, the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride and the Grade 1 Ashland in a dead heat, Room Service seems the classiest and fastest filly.

She’s also well managed. Her connections gave thought to running her in the Kentucky Oaks but decided against switching her to dirt against the nation’s best. As a daughter of More Than Ready, Room Service’s future is on grass.

She also was encouragingly given a work over the Santa Anita turf course in preparation for this race, and with a long run to the first turn and being a deep closer, her outside post should not hamper her.

As for the competition, Nashoba’s Gold and Diversy Harbor have been consistent performers, but they’ve essentially just faced one another without having to deal with many new shooters, until now.

Room Service looks like she can run these down.